Gunners goalkeeper ready to keep visiting Everton in check

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech applauds supporters after his team won the Champions League Group F soccer match against Bayern Munich at Emirates stadium in London on Tuesday. Photo: AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth.

ONE man stands in the way of a rare victory for Everton at Emirates Stadium tonight.

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech.

The 33-year-old, signed from Chelsea in the off season, has kept an equal-best five clean sheets in nine English Premier League games this season. That has taken him to 167 in the competition, just two off the all-time record held by David James.

Cech has also racked up the best saves-to-shots ratio of any top-flight goalkeeper this season with 82.1%, just ahead of Tottenham's Hugo Lloris (81.2%) and Crystal Palace's Alex McCarthy (80.6%).

Not only will Everton have to find a way past the Czech international, they will have to overcome the weight of history to get the points.

Arsenal has lost just one of its past 16 EPL games against the Toffees, and haven't been beaten by Everton in London since January 1996.

Sharpshooters Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott have been in great form for the Gunners, who are equal-second on the standings with Manchester United.

Manchester City is two points clear at the top and can extend that advantage if it can beat its cross-town rivals in the Manchester derby tomorow night.

Meanwhile, fourth-placed West Ham will also have to overcome a poor record against London rival Chelsea. The Hammers have won just once against the defending champion in the past 18 London derbies.